The state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had a major breakthrough on Monday when its Vikhroli unit arrested top Maoist leader, Naxalite Surya Devra Prabhakar (60), from his hideout in Kanjur Marg.

The state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had a major breakthrough on Monday when its Vikhroli unit arrested top Maoist leader, Naxalite Surya Devra Prabhakar (60), from his hideout in Kanjur Marg.

Sources said Prabhakar is a prize catch because he was a member of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) politburo.

Prabhakar, who deserted his family 30 years ago, has been trying to create a base for Maoists in Mumbai, said a police officer requesting anonymity.

ATS sources said Prabhakar has confessed that he was associated with the CPI (M) and was in touch with members of the now defunct People’s War Group since 1978. “He has been with these groups for over 30 years now,” said Police Inspector Ravindra Doiphode adding that the ATS found a railway pass and a fake voter’s identity card from him issued in the name of Bharat Raman Gandhi.

Doiphode said that Prabhakar has worked in Madhya Pradesh and Surat and has been in Mumbai since 1999. He kept shifting base to avoid detection.

Inspector Dinesh Agrawal said that the ATS found a bag containing objectionable CPI (M) and PWG literature.

The police also found a pen drive and a mobile phone. Agrawal said that Prabhakar’s name had first cropped up during the interrogation of Vernon Gonsalves Sridhar Srinivasan alleged Naxalite leaders who were arrested in Mumbai in 2007.